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MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY
BURSAR'S OFFICE

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

General Billing Information

What charges are due at the beginning of the semester?

All tuition, fees, room, meal plan and miscellaneous charges on your account must be paid in full by noon on the due date shown on your initial billing statement unless you have made payment arrangements with required payment. (See Payment Plan Option.)

How can I make payment on my account?

Check and money order payments with student name and University Account Number included may be mailed to Murray State University, P.O. Box 4339, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18773-4339. Each remittance of payment by check is considered authorization to convert that particular check into an electronic fund transfer. If your check is unable to be converted, it may be processed as a Check Replacement Document drawn against your account. Credit or debit card (VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express) may be made on-line through RacerPay or by calling RacerTouch at (270) 809-3500 during regular business hours. E-checks from your bank account may be made through RacerPay.

Do I have to make payment arrangements every semester?

The MSUPP is an open credit agreement that is kept on file in the Office of the Bursar and does not require that arrangements be made every semester provided you are continuously enrolled at Murray State. You may elect to change your payment option at any time by notifying the Office of the Bursar in writing. Your initial semester billing statement will show your payment option on file with the Office of the Bursar.

If I decide not to return to the university can I assume that the Bursar will cancel my classes and remove related charges from my account?

No. To assure that your registration has been canceled, you must notify, in writing, the Admissions and Registrar's Office, P.O. Box 9, Murray, KY 42071-0009.

When and where will billing statements be sent?

Initial semester billing statements will be mailed mid April for the summer semester, mid July for the fall semester and mid November for the spring semester to students who have prescheduled. Students scheduling classes during late registration will not be sent a bill. After classes begin, statements will be mailed on a monthly basis (approximately the 20th of each month) to all enrolled students who have an outstanding account balance.

All billing statements are sent to the student's permanent address on file with the Admissions Office. It is the student's responsibility to provide the Admissions Office with an accurate address and telephone number. This may be done (1) in person, in writing at the Admissions Office, 1st Floor, Sparks Hall, (2) on-line, or (3) by phone at (270) 809-3741.

What happens if I fail to make payment arrangements?

Students who fail to make payment in full or make acceptable payment arrangements with required payment by noon on the due date shown on their billing statement for the semester will have their class schedule dropped (purged). A continuing or returning student who reschedules classes after an initial schedule was purged will be assessed a $25 late payment fee.

Murray State University Payment Plan (MSUPP)

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How is the MSUPP amount determined and can it be changed?
The MSUPP contract is calculated on a semester basis. The total charges (tuition, housing, meal plan, and fees) less financial aid/scholarships/third party authorizations for a semester result in the MSUPP contract amount. At the beginning of each fall and spring semester this contract amount is then divided into four payments. Payments are due in August, September, October and November for the fall semester and December, February, March and April for the spring semester. (Accounts with a balance of $100 or less will be due in full.) Accounts with a balance in excess of $75 will be assessed a service charge at the monthly rate of 0.65 percent.

The contract amount is calculated each semester when the first billing statement is produced. Changes in your financial aid, tuition course fee(s), housing, meal plan or miscellaneous charges will be reflected in the monthly amount due. Changes will be reflected in the billing statement and may result in an increase or decrease in the amount due for the month being billed. (See example below.)

EXAMPLE (the amounts used below do not reflect the actual rates in effect at this time):

CHARGES		FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE
Tuition Course Fee Meal Plan Housing Total Fees	$1,700 20 1,000 1,090 $3,810	Scholarships Stafford Loan Total Anticipated Aid Outstanding Balance	$ 500 1,260* $1,760 $2,050

(Total Fees – Total Anticipated Aid = Outstanding Balance)

Monthly Amount Due = $513    ($2050/4 = $512.50 - rounded to the nearest dollar)

* The Stafford Loan amount is the loan amount less the 4% origination fee which is deducted by the lender

EXAMPLE:     $2,625 per year/2 semesters = $1,312 per semester
        $1,312 x 4% = $52.48
        $1,312 - $52 = $1,260 (net amount of loan)

Stafford Loan and PLUS Loan amounts are estimates. The actual dollar amount will vary due to origination and bank fees. How will this affect my MSUPP contract amount for the semester?

Participants in the MSUPP will have their contract amounts adjusted to reflect the origination and bank fees (see example above). Monthly payments will be adjusted after the actual loan is credited to the student account.

What if I do not want to participate in the MSUPP for this semester?

If you decide not to use the plan for one semester, the account balance must be paid in full by noon on the due date shown on the initial semester billing statement or at any time during the semester. If you wish to make a permanent change, you must complete a new payment option form with the Bursar’s Office, Murray State University, 200 Sparks Hall, Murray, KY 42071-3312.

Financial Aid

If student aid covers all of my charges, why do I have to make payment arrangements?

Students receiving financial aid are required to complete an MSUPP application because student financial aid is generally not available prior to the beginning of each semester when payment in full or payment arrangements must be made.

I am a new undergraduate student this semester receiving a Stafford Loan. Will there be a delay in receiving these funds?

The federal government requires a delay for the first disbursement of Stafford Loans for 30 days from the first day of class for first time, first year undergraduate borrowers. You may contact the Student Loan Accounting Office by telephone (270) 809-2691, by mail to Student Loan Office, Murray State University, 200 Sparks Hall, Murray, KY 42071-3312, or e-mail to Student.Loans@murraystate.edu, if you have questions concerning your loan disbursement.

I have not received my financial aid award notification. What should I do?

Financial aid award notifications are sent from the Student Financial Aid Office. You may contact the Student Financial Aid Office at (270) 809-2546 concerning the status of your award. Please note that all students applying for financial aid must enroll in the MSUPP (see Payment Plan Option). Your financial aid will be applied to your account as it is received provided you meet the terms for eligibility.

How will I receive my financial aid?

All PELL Grants, State CAP Grants, SEOG Grants, Nursing Loans and Perkins Loans will be applied directly to your account provided you have met all requirements for receiving your aid. Subsidized Stafford Loans, Unsubsidized Stafford Loans and Parent PLUS Loans will be applied directly to your account if your lender participates with Murray State University in the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). You must authorize your lender to make EFT disbursements of your loan by checking the EFT block on your promissory note; otherwise, you will need to pick up your loan check in the Student Loan Office on or after the first day of classes each semester. You should contact your lender to determine if they participate with MSU in the EFT. If you have not prescheduled classes or signed the required loan paperwork, financial aid awards will not be credited to your account.

How will I receive my excess financial aid funds?

All financial aid residual checks and refund checks will be mailed. If the total amount of financial aid applied to your account exceeds the amount of tuition/fee/housing/meal plan charges you owe, a residual check will be mailed to you at your permanent address on file with Office of Admissions unless you have a residual/refund mailing address on file with the Bursar’s Office.

What if I receive a Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES)?

Students receiving the KEES scholarship are required to complete an MSUPP application because these funds will not be available prior to the beginning of each semester when payment in full or payment arrangements must be made. KEES scholarship funds will be included in the anticipated aid on the initial semester billing statement. KEES money is not available to the university to be applied to the student account until October for the fall semester and March for the spring semester.

Tuition and Fees

How do you determine the tuition rate that appears on my bill?

Students taking WEB/KYVU courses will pay the hourly tuition rate, as listed in the schedule of fees, times the number of WEB/KYVU hours scheduled. (WEB/KYVU course tuition and fees are separate and in addition to REGULAR tuition and fees.)

Full-time students (undergraduates taking at least 12 hours, excluding WEB/KYVU courses, and graduates taking at least 9 hours, excluding WEB/KYVU courses, per semester) will pay the full-time rate listed in the schedule of fees.

Part-time students (undergraduates taking fewer than 12 hours, excluding WEB/KYVU courses, and graduates taking fewer than 9 hours, excluding WEB/KYVU courses, per semester) will pay the part-time rate, as listed in the schedule of fees, times the number of hours scheduled.

What counties in Tennessee qualify for in-state tuition rates?

This agreement is currently under review by the states of Kentucky and Tennessee.

What Counties in Illinois, Tennessee and Indiana qualify for a tuition discount?

Students admitted for Fall 2004, and thereafter, from Massac county in Illinois; Montgomery county in Tennessee; or Posey, Vanderburgh or Warrick counties in Indiana will be assessed out-of-state tuition. A tuition discount will be credited for the difference between Murray State University's out-of-state tuition and in-state tuition.

Housing and Meal Plans

I am classified as a freshman or sophomore. Am I required to live in university housing and purchase a meal plan?

Freshman and sophomore students must reside in university housing during the fall and spring semesters. Anyone with fewer than 30 semester hours earned is classified as a freshman, and anyone with 30 or more hours but fewer than 60 semester hours earned is classified as a sophomore. (See the Schedule of Fees for housing requirements.)

Freshman and sophomore students living in the residence halls must purchase a meal plan. Freshman and sophomore students may purchase any of the Residential Plans. Junior and senior students may choose from any of the Residential or Commuter Plans. There are 19 meals per week served on campus starting Monday breakfast through Sunday dinner. A student may eat only three meals per day except on Saturday and Sunday when only two meals per day are served. Students who select a specific number of meals per semester will have their choice of 0-19 meals per week (based on the meal plan selected) unil their maximum number of meals purchased is consumed. Students who select the Block Plan will have a combination of meals and flex dollars, which can be used like cash at Winslow.

How may I obtain exemptions from the housing and meal plan requirements?

Exemption from housing requirements must be obtained in writing prior to the first of classes from the Housing Office, P. O. Box 9, Murray, KY 42071-0009. Exemption from meal plan requirements should be obtained in writing prior to the first of classes from the Racer Card Office, Murray State University, 101 Curris Center, Murray, KY 42071-3356; however, meal plan exemption may be obtained through the first four weeks of classes. Exemptions are normally granted by virtue of age (over 21), military service, marital status or commuter status.

My bill indicates I have requested a different meal plan than I would actually like to have. How do I change my meal plan?

Written notification including student name, social security number and meal plan requested should be sent to the Racer Card Office, Murray State University, 101 Curris Center, Murray, KY 42071-3356. (Freshmen and sophomores are required to have a meal plan if they live on campus.)

How do I set up a declining balance account?

Students choosing to participate in declining balance may do so by depositing money at the Cashier's Office, 2nd Floor Sparks Hall; at the Food Service Office, 1st Floor Curris Center; or by RacerPay.

The declining balance may be used at Food Service locations, the University Store, and the Curris Center game room. Freshman and sophomore students may use declining balance in addition to their required meal plan purchase.

Scholarship and Stipend Refunds

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How will I receive a refund from my scholarship and/or stipend?
Students who have a credit balance on their account that results from a refundable scholarship credit will be sent a refund to their permanent address on file with the Office of Admissions unless a residual/refund mailing address is on file with the Bursar’s Office. Stipend refunds should be picked up in the Accounts Payable Office, 2nd Floor Sparks Hall. Under no circumstances will a student who owes money to MSU be issued a scholarship or stipend refund.

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